I have a 2004 dodge stratus & have two questions... First I cannot locate the obd access port to hook up my scanner to see what code triggered the check engine light. Second is when it downshifts and hits 30mph it shifts really hard and am wondering if this is bad for transmission?

The connector is directly above the drivers right leg, just under the panel. It is hard to find, because it is not on the panel itself, but below it. Since it is below the panel, its very hard to locate the first time. You need a good flash light and some patience, and once you find it, you might laugh, because it was there all along, just hiding.

No, it is not the transmission. Most likely cause is the "Camshaft Sensor", and you should be getting P0340 error, but not always. It downshifts and hits 30mph as a safety feature. It happened on my car while driving on the freeway at night, and everyone around me was driving 75 mph. Cars were honking, high beam lights flashing, and they would not let me change lanes, a middle finger was pointed at me, with shouting out the window, angry expressions on peoples faces, tires screeching and someone had almost crashed into my car, not once, but twice, as I pulled off to the side of the road.

If your vehicle has more than 80K miles, sensors start going bad, and you just have to change them. The 4 sensors that gave the most problems an my car were Camshaft Sensor, Crankshaft Sensor, Throttle Position Sensor, Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor, and of course the Thermostat. Also, one of the Oxygen Sensors showed bad on the diagnostic, but gave no problems.

Your down shift is probably your kick down cable these are famous to gradually seize up!! I'm at a Dodge dealer ship!!! I see hundreds any how to be sure with car off!!! push gas pedal all the way to the floor board if it stops half way to force it you will need to service the kick down linkage located on top of transmission this cable links to your throttle linkage as well if so pull off cable at transmission steelwool the connector ball that cable attaches to really well spray inside of cable clip housing with WD-40 and apply anti seize compound the the transmission linkage ball well to avoid future problems! your OBD scan socket is located above drivers left knee on 45 degree angel don't forget to plug in then turn ignition on! happy new year FR:,John,Toronto Canada

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Take the vehicle to any auto parts store that offers to read the fault codes with a scanner for free and find out what that code is. If it shows Upstream or Downstream O2 sensor replace the O2 Sensor. There is a catch, dodge had an issue in the 2000 - 2004. The ECM will show a fault code that indicates the Catalytic converter is faulty. This is actually a faulty Downstream O2 Sensor. If you get a Catalytic converter fault code replace the O2 sensor first if you still have the problem then replace the converter.

why what is it doing and did you have check eng light on ? and did you plug in a OBD 2 scanner to retrieve those fault codes that would indicate that specific "code" was the trouble= O2 sensor/or sensors